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Best University with flight program?

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Best University with flight program?

Old 06-19-2010, 08:40 PM
  #11  
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Originally Posted by erictgill View Post
US News does the rankings each year for Universities and Embry Riddle Daytona Campus has held the #1 in aviation for about as long as they have been ranking. USAF Academy is #2 and ERAU AZ Campus is #3
Top Schools for Aeronautics, Aviation and Aerospace Science

What I have herd is the USAF Academy flight training is mediocre, The government contracted out the flight training to a place called Doss Aviation in Pueblo Colorado. The CFI standards are low for a job at doss teaching cadets Employment

Keep in mind when the Government contracts civillians for anything the contract goes to the lowest bidder. You should know that being in the Marines and all. What gives the USAF Academy such a good name is dispite their hands on flight training they do have a really good academic standard. Plus add the 6 years of active duty and experience.
As I said - and I see that Rickair already beat me too it - the USAFA isn't a Flight Training Academy the likes of ERAU

I do appreciate that you provided the source of your statement though and I can see where some (and I include the author of the article) get confused.

I do find it interesting to note the qualifications that this very article attributes to the two schools:

(Source: U.S. News, US News & World Report - Breaking News, World News, Business News, and America's Best Colleges - USNews.com):
  • 1. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University (Florida)
This private university has built a solid reputation for its aeronautical program.
-Undergraduate Student Body: 4,407; Faculty to Student Ratio: 1:17; Tuition Costs: $23,500 (not including housing fees); Average High School GPA of Incoming Freshmen: 3.3; Test Scores of Incoming Freshmen: ACT: More than 40% had scores 18-23, SAT: More than 40% had scores 1000-1100.
  • 2. United States Air Force Academy (Colorado)
-It prides itself on educating future leaders.
-Undergraduate Student Body: 4,274; Faculty to Student Ratio: 1:9; Tuition Costs: Not Listed; Average High School GPA of Incoming Freshmen: 3.9; Test Scores of Incoming Freshmen: ACT: More than 50% had scores 24-29, SAT: More than 50% had scores 1200-1299.
Although I hear that ERAU does have a fairly respected engineering department (I only know about it via these forums), I'm willing to say that I'd expect that a Engineering degree from one of the service academies is probably a very well respected degree too Even looking at the general statistics presented I'm still trying to figure out exactly what criteria was used by the author to rate these schools.
Maybe it was percentage of graduates who get an corporate engineering job with one of the major aeronautical firms immediately after graduation

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Old 06-19-2010, 09:40 PM
  #12  
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I could have shown up to ERAU with checkbook in hand and gotten accepted right away to the "number 1" school, but for two years the USAFA wouldn't take me.

Oh wait, DoDMERB is a *****. Unless you have never been to a doctor in your life, they will find something to reject you.

Rant aside... you might consider Illinois. Big State school with all the benefits that brings, plus an excellent flight program that allows you to get a slightly more useful aviation degree (Human Factors) OR it has a nice program that allows you to major in something else while still taking the flight courses (private through CFI/II/MEI). Its a 141 school FWIW.
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Old 06-19-2010, 10:54 PM
  #13  
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Originally Posted by snippercr View Post
... you might consider Illinois. Big State school with all the benefits that brings, plus an excellent flight program that allows you to get a slightly more useful aviation degree (Human Factors) OR it has a nice program that allows you to major in something else while still taking the flight courses (private through CFI/II/MEI). Its a 141 school FWIW.
Seconded. Huge Big Ten school with 40,000 students. Great education for the dollar in any area. Some are extremely competitive like Engineering and Business. You'll still get the small time feeling from the Institute of Aviation. I believe the school is less than 200 students and you'll never get that feeling. The equipment, while not glass except for one Arrow, is excellent quality!

I would not change where I received my flight training if I had to do it again.

Chief Illiniwek will live on forever

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Old 06-20-2010, 03:36 AM
  #14  
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I'm biased, but Purdue is an excellent option, much along the lines of U of I.

Big 10 (12?) school, large campus & student population, and a multitude of other academic programs one might get a minor or second major in, including the very highly-ranked business school in Krannert & the obvious choice when most think of Purdue, the School of Engineering.

That's before you get to the aviation program, which has a long & rich history and is purposefully kept small to ensure scheduling of aircraft & classes. This fall they'll have a brand new fleet, which they also had when I started (new Warriors) but the flight fees charged are IMO very reasonable compared to the cost of the same aircraft at a local FBO. The professors generally are getting up in age but have been teaching a long time and are FANTASTIC - they really make the program work and go out of their way to help students succeed in their professional, and even sometimes personal, lives.

Out of state tuition at Purdue is a *****, and Purdue offers next to no academic scholarships for out-of-staters...something to keep in mind.

I could have attended Kentucky for free due to high school academics and done all my ratings in LEX for a fraction of what Purdue ended up costing...but I absolutely would not trade my experiences in West Lafayette to have less student loan debt.

There are lots of good options out there - choose wisely, as your bottom line should be considered just as much, if not more, than the school's reputation...
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Old 06-20-2010, 05:29 AM
  #15  
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Originally Posted by TheReelDeel33 View Post
DON'T GET AN AVIATION DEGREE!!!!

Pick a good school that offers both aviation and a degree in another field that is of interest to you. Get a "real" degree and do your flight training through the university. This way you have something else to fall back on in the event your aviation career hits a dead end. And as the previous poster stated, varied weather is your friend. It will make you a better pilot.

That's exactly what i'm doing, except i'm getting the real degree and flight training through a community college so it is even cheaper than a university. Plus, even though it is out of county for me my designated community college does not offer aviation so I get to pay in county tuition. It also is close enough to home so that I can commute and still be a non-rent-paying/freeloading off my parents house kinda guy. After i'm done with the community college i'll transfer to one of the 4 year colleges around here for business admin (the real degree). I recommend trying to do something similiar if at all possible because this has been working out pretty well for me so far


COULDNT AGREE MORE!!!
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Old 06-20-2010, 06:00 AM
  #16  
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Don't get an aviation degree. It is absolutely worthless in regards to a backup career. I have and aviation degree and wish I had a degree in something useful like finance or criminal justice. Do what the others are saying, get a real degree and fly on the side.

As for schools:

If you can get into the USAF Academy, do that. You have to convince Uncle Sam to pay for your education and flight training.

Otherwise I can recommend University of North Dakota. If you are looking to save money go to UND over ERAU. UND is a public school, ERAU is not. If you live in a Western state you can reduced tuition at UND. By all means don't let a recruiter talk you into an aviation degree. UND has a lot of other good programs to look into and you can take advantage of the flying courses while there as well.

I went to UND. It gets VERY cold and there is almost nothing to do there other than what most college students do with any spare time. I did however have a lot of fun there and I can only speak of great things about the training and the people in Grand Forks. Very professional and standardized and you will pay a lot less at UND than ERAU.

Also, make sure flying is something you really NEED to do for a living. The quality of life and pay has been decreasing with time. It does become a job sooner than you might think. The glory days of being a pilot are over. I tell most wannabe pilots. Go make money, and buy your own plane and keep it fun.

Also, don't go into ridiculous debt to be a pilot. If someone else is paying, by all means take advantage of it, but you need to consider the responsibility of paying off debts with food-stamp like wages. You may be living your dream, but your life will become a nightmare if you can't afford your student loans. this should take PRIORITY over any decisions you make.
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Old 06-20-2010, 06:49 AM
  #17  
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Originally Posted by Captain Krusty View Post
Don't get an aviation degree. It is absolutely worthless in regards to a backup career. I have and aviation degree and wish I had a degree in something useful like finance or criminal justice.
Criminal justice degree? For what - so you can be a law enforcement officer?

That's like saying you MUST have an aviation degree to become an airline pilot.

Finance degree? To make "real" money, eh?

Did you guys notice the number of banking/investment/finance-related jobs that were lost the last 18 months? And how many recent finance major graduates are STILL looking for work these days with no near-term career potential other than bank teller?

Folks with an aviation degree who have never worked professionally outside of the aviation industry often think a degree in ANYTHING but aviation would be their key to a successful job hunt outside of airplanes...but the reality is most any degree, without employment experience in the field using said degree (especially recent experience), is one step above useless when finding a job.

I know people with aviation degrees that have found successful, gainful employment outside of aviation in the fields of (among other things) business, retail management, and entrepreneurship.

You wanna make decent money over your career? You want some semblance of job security? Start your own business or go into nursing - other than that, the closest technical profession I can think of (and have experience with) is engineering - competent PEs are still fairly in demand.
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Old 06-20-2010, 08:13 AM
  #18  
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Boiler makes a good point. It doesn't really matter what degree you have for the most part. Some careers is does matter. I put down criminal justice or finance because that is what I am interested in, and yes a degree in criminal justice does help you in other law enforcement related jobs, not just a doughnut eating cop gig.

I say get a degree in something else so at least you have some knowledge in some other area you may enjoy so when you fail your medical you can have an easier start in a different career.
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Old 07-30-2010, 10:15 PM
  #19  
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Another option that goes with the USAFA, is a possible enlistment. Free training in a aviation related field or any field for that matter. Free schooling, potential for reduced flying costs if there is an aero club on base. I have my associates now with minimal college classes. Mostly AF mandatory education. Guard or Reserves are options as well. You still get the Active duty style training and education but with working "weekends only" it frees up time to go to school full time using the states tuition assistance if your guard. Just a few more options. Individual unit recruiters are better to talk to. They have more specifics on job open and benefits available.

I myself am finishing up an active duty commitment and am looking into the guard/reserves as possible part time employment as well as geographical stability for the family. Over all you cant beat guarnteed pay check, and free education and training in todays economy.
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Old 07-31-2010, 03:18 AM
  #20  
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Shameless plug here for my Alma Mater, Delta State University in Cleveland, MS. It is a small school, more in line with a community college as far as enrollment. I had a great experience there, and would certainly reccomend it to anyone asking my opinion. They (at least used to) have an internship with Pinnacle and Fedex. At one time, you could walk into a crew room of Pinnacle's, and it would be like a Delta State reunion. Lots of guys I went to DSU with are now flying there.
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